Rogers looked unstoppable from the outset during the 38 minute enduro format, with the real battle for minor placings drawing the most attention, with New South Wales ironwoman star Lizzie Welborn taking second place, closely followed by Sunshine Coast athlete and series debutant Emma Woods finishing third.
“I took a risk in that race and I just said to myself if I go hard now at least I’ve tried, and it paid off,” Rogers said.
While elated with the win, Rogers had already shifted her focus on to the next two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
“I think the main thing now is definitely recovery,” she told the
Surf Life Saving Australia announced the decision on Thursday. The Coast is set to boast a stellar cast of lifesavers in the 2020/21 series, including defending ironwoman champion Lana Rogers, Cooper Williams, Tiarrn Raymond, Tayla Halliday, Emma Woods, Electra Outram and Tiarnee Massie. It is really unfortunate that we have had to again make the decision to postpone the start of the Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series, but the decision has been made with the best interests of everyone involved and the wider community, SLSA board member and surf sports board chair Suzanne Storrie said. It is impossible to 100 per cent confirm how the Series will proceed, but we are determined to explore all options to run the six rounds of the elite and Next Gen Series. Our staff are actively working through options with a wide range of stakeholders.
Defending ironwoman champion Lana Rogers, who switched to Alexandra Headland surf club in the off-season, told the
Daily earlier in the week that she had been keen to get the competitive juices flowing again. But, Rogers and the other Coast athletes including Cooper Williams, Tiarrn Raymond, Tayla Halliday, Emma Woods, Electra Outram and Tiarnee Massie will now have to wait until January next year. Rogers revealed her disappointment on social media on Friday afternoon. Dear COVID-19, I hate you, she wrote. Maybe next year. Surf Life Saving Australia Board made the call on Friday afternoon. Given the number of competitors and officials that reside in the Sydney Northern Beaches and in accordance with the public health alerts, the event has been postponed until a later date.